Workshop Info

On this page you will find information on all the workshops offered on Saturday, September 14th 2019

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What level are you at?

Beginner

At this level, you are a brand-new ukulele player. You may have learned a few chords but you stop in-between chord changes to move your fingers to the next location.

Confident Beginner

This player knows a handful of chords and can move from one chord to another without pausing. Has developed a strum or two or a basic finger pattern for picking.

IntermediateAt this level, you can hold a steady rhythm and can play a variety of basic chords (for example: A, Am, B7, C, C7, D, Dm, E, Em, G, and G7). You can play simple chord progressions (such as I, IV, V chords), can sing and strum at the same time, and you can learn chords to simple tunes fairly quickly.

*All the workshops offered are either at the beginner or the intermediate level.

Ukulele starter kit – 2 part course Ages 8-98+ (younger kids welcome to join with accompanying adult)So… you want to play ukulele? Then, this class is just for you. We will learn all the basics to start having fun with our new instrument. You will learn how to hold it, the name of the ukulele parts, the basics for strumming. ​Level: Newcomer, Beginner Requisites: Wanting to learn

*Only 20 spots available for this workshop.

Workshop fee: 25.00 for Beginner 101 or $45.00 for Beginner 101 & 102

*Please contact us if you need to borrow a ukulele for the workshop.

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Absolute Beginner 102 – Moving On. 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Instructor, Ali Romanow, a Level 1 JHUI certified teacher.

Part two will be building on what you have learned in the morning or adding to what you have been trying to learn on your own at home if you have your own ukulele and want to improve.

We’ll add how to read a chord diagram, and how to follow a song chart.

Requisites: Attending Absolute Beginner 101 or having a little experience playing your ukulele at home

This workshop is for people who know basic ukulele chords (eg. C F G7) and would like to further their ability and tap into a new genre and style- Blues on a ukulele. Blues has greatly contributed to Rock and Roll, Jazz and other popular music forms. It follows a repeated 12 Bar structure, which makes it easy for jamming along with friends.

We will look at:-

Learning the 12 Bar Blues pattern

Rhythm and strumming patterns, including the Boogie Woogie Shuffle

Easy riffs to jam along with the progression.

Improvising using the Minor Pentatonic Scale

Putting it all together to play a Blues song together

Workshop fee $30.00

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Ukulele Tablature and Fingerstyle Demystified or What the heck is PIMA anyway?

10:30a.m. to 12:00p.m.

Instructor: Carol Johns

Learn to read ukulele tablature as you begin to explore the world of fingerstyle playing. You will be introduced to plucking and picking techniques as you learn to play a song. By the end of the workshop you will be fingerpicking to a simple picking pattern and applying the picking pattern to a song.

This workshop will be suited to beginners who are proficient in changing chords in the key of C (C, F, G, G7, Am, Dm) or to intermediate players who are not familiar with tab.

Workshop fee: $30.00

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The “chunk” is a fun percussive strumming technique that makes a beat for yourself while you’re playing chords. We’ll use the chunk as a back beat (on beats 2 and 4), and focus on both pop/rock and swing rhythms. You’ll then be able to spice up songs you already know as well as future songs!

Workshop fee: $30.00

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The Mystery of Chords – 1.30p.m. – 3.30p.m.

What is the 1, 4, 5?

Instructor – Liz DeBarros

This workshop will show you how chords are made and explain the mystery of chord progressions. Learn some “Must Know” chord progressions

How to transpose or change the key of a song. Movable chords

Chord “inversions” (don’t worry, it’s not that technical) see how you can make chords up and down the neck.

How and when to use a capo. Ukulele Capos will be available to purchase at the Arbutus Music Store merchandise table at the Festival if you do not have one already.

How to anticipate chord changes and position your fingers for quicker and more accurate changes.

Workshop fee $30.00

Scroll to the bottom of this page and Click on the arrow below “Tickets” to purchase concert or workshop tickets and Add to Cart. Tickets on sale NOW.

If you prefer to buy your tickets in person or by mail, please contact us using the “Contact Us” link at the top or side of the page.

Concert and workshop tickets are also available atArbutus Music,6324, Metral Drive, Nanaimo from April 1st 2019.

Click on the arrow below to purchase concert or workshop tickets. Tickets on sale NOW.

Tickets

If you order tickets online, your PayPal invoice is confirmation of your Registration. No tickets will be mailed out, you can pick up your tickets at the Registration desk at the Festival on Friday evening for the concert and Saturday morning/afternoon for Workshop folders

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Links to our favourite ukulele websites

From Vancouver, B.C. Ruby's Ukes http://www.rubysukes.ca/press/
James Hill's on-line learn to play the ukulele course:
https://www.theukuleleway.com/
PDF Minstrel for tons of tabs for the ukulele. Lots of classical arrangements and links to many, many other uke sites.
https://pdfminstrel.wordpress.com/